They were scheduled to reach senior Soren’s Morabadi residence around 11am, but arrived in an SUV only around 2.15pm only. However, nothing new emerged from the meeting that lasted for an hour.

The legislators, who were upset over the party’s decision to not field Sabita Mahto, the widow of former deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto, in the biennial, were to put in their papers to the Speaker today.

“We are firm on our decision to resign. During the meeting with Guruji, we received a phone call from Sabita, who requested us to wait till February 5. Sudhir Mahto’s shradh will be over by then. So we postponed our resignation,” Mathura told a section of the media who were waiting outside Shibu’s residence.

Jagannath said they would support the statewide chakka jam called by Kurmi Vikas Morcha, a social outfit of Mahto and Kurmi groups who have a sizeable presence in the state, on February 5. “Aapman ka koi compensation nahi hota,” said Jagannath, trying to convey that there could not be any compensation for the “insult” meted out to Sabita.

Vidyut Baran said the decision (to accept Prem Chand Gupta’s candidature in the Rajya Sabha poll) was apparently taken on RJD’s pressure but this was not expected from a party like JMM.

When asked why they were bargaining so hard, Jagannath countered: “Bargaining to ho gaya, ab our kya hoga (bargaining is all over, what is left now).” He added the newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs Gupta and Independent Parimal Nathwani were from Haryana and Gujarat, respectively.

JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said everything was fine in the party.